Mental Health in the Digital Age Lab
Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University
Resources
Digital Wellness
​
-
Strengthening Teen Digital Well-Being - Tips for talking with teens about social media and thinking traps
​
Media Literacy
Provided by:
.png)
MediaSmarts Parent Blog: "We are raising kids who are going to be so much better at using media for (hopefully) good; for their education, careers, community giving and passions. It’s moving quickly and we are trying to keep up..."​
​
How to Spot Influencer Marketing
Cbckids.ca<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=560829f0fd&e=0abbb3f966> is a digital citizenship and literacy tool for school aged kids (6-10 years), offering children a safe and comprehensive "first" website experience where they can engage in age-appropriate exploration and digital play. Features include a full site search tool, 100+ ad free games and a build in video player and watch centre packed with fun and informative content. There are also articles, quizzes and other interactive feed formats to explore.
​
Collaborator resource:
How to Spot Influencer Marketing
[https://mcusercontent.com/67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486/video_thumbnails_new/042f7cb444a022abf54842f2e430a735.png] <https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=835549f149&e=0abbb3f966>
Got teens in your life? Ad Standards<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=6e26cfc41c&e=0abbb3f966> created this short video for them on how to spot when an influencer is advertising a product or service in a post, video or other piece of content.
Collaborator highlight: CBC Kids
Cbckids.ca<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=560829f0fd&e=0abbb3f966> is a digital citizenship and literacy tool for school aged kids (6-10 years), offering children a safe and comprehensive "first" website experience where they can engage in age-appropriate exploration and digital play. Features include a full site search tool, 100+ ad free games and a build in video player and watch centre packed with fun and informative content. There are also articles, quizzes and other interactive feed formats to explore.
Here are some great resources to check out during Media Literacy Week:
[https://mcusercontent.com/67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486/images/6358e499-5adb-d41b-56da-9ebe5d43653e.png] <https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=9213c4466e&e=0abbb3f966>
CBC Kids News: How to Tell the Difference Between Real and Fake News, hosted by contributor Saara Chaudry<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=cc1466487c&e=0abbb3f966>
What is Fake News? (CBC Kids News YouTube)<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=443c0e5a54&e=0abbb3f966>
CBC Kids Quiz: Fact or Fake - Can You Tell the Difference Online?<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=d5298cefbc&e=0abbb3f966>
Collaborator presentation:
Know your worth on social media
[https://mcusercontent.com/67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486/video_thumbnails_new/26400073149ecfd2818530325335dbf2.png] <https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=7992304204&e=0abbb3f966>
Want to unlock your Instagram algorithm awareness? This interactive video from ICTC<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=1af3ab60be&e=0abbb3f966>'s Vivian Lee shows us a few of the different ways that social media platforms manipulate their users with attention-grabbing advertising strategies. Participants will be asked to look at three different kinds of advertising on Instagram, and practice self-reflection on what kinds of advertisements they are seeing in their own feeds. Students will walk away from this activity with a heightened awareness of targeted advertising and the omnichannel they contribute to directly.
Collaborator resource: The Power of Positive Actions - Helping Others Online
[https://mcusercontent.com/67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486/video_thumbnails_new/0b605873f30c4c69a37900c14861a3fd.png] <https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=6fd6a3e049&e=0abbb3f966>
In The Power of Positive Actions - Helping Others Online, Ophea<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=bf914978dc&e=0abbb3f966>'s internet safety video for Grade 5 students, a character is receiving inappropriate messages from an anonymous account online, and reaches out to a friend for help.
This video is designed to help youth develop the following internet safety skills: describing different types of hurtful comments that might occur online and their effects on ourselves and others; identifying trusted people and services who can help someone who is dealing with harmful behaviours online; and using coping and conflict resolution skills to decide on strategies to support an individual who is experiencing cyberbullying or other threatening situations online.
Read the accompanying discussion guide<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=678faaf6a4&e=0abbb3f966> and find more of Ophea's internet safety resources here<https://mediasmarts.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=67f408dfb22f2784ff7891486&id=42ac8dfe42&e=0abbb3f966>.
​
​
​
​
Back to the Workplace
​
Our working situations have dramatically changed since 2020. After more than a year of working remotely, many employees have concerns, about returning to the workplace and the life that the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed.
​
With a workforce already suffering from a notable rise in mental distress from the pandemic, a real risk exists that we will encounter yet another wave of stress and anxiety as we return to the workplace. Pervasive workplace stigma exacerbates risks, with fewer than one in ten describing their workplace as free from stigma on mental or substance use disorders, leading many to avoid seeking needed care.
​
It's important to recognize and prioritize psychological safety, alongside physical safety, in post-pandemic operations to help employees' mental health and their own efforts to cultivate inclusive workspaces. This support can have concrete effects on critical workplace outcomes, including wellbeing, satisfaction, productivity, and absenteeism. While some have already begun to take steps, opportunities remain. Learn more below:
​
-
Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety: Reducing Return Anxiety Tip Sheet
-
CMHA Return to a Shared Workplace: a psychological toolkit for transitioning into a new normal
-
MHCC Tip Sheet: How to Manage Return Anxiety as Lockdown Lifts
​
​
Mental Health Applications
Managing Your Stress and Anxiety
From: CAMH
The Managing Your Stress and Anxiety app provides tips and coping strategies to help manage your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available on both iOS and Android.
​
Mindfulness Coach
From: US Veterans Affairs
Mindfulness Coach helps users understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice, which can help reduce stress, improve emotional balance and help with anxiety and depression. Created by the US Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD to help veterans and service members, but can be used by a wider audience.
​
PTSD Coach Canada
From: Veterans Affairs Canada
PTSD Coach Canada can help users learn about and manage their PTSD symptoms, and includes education, self-assessment tools, and resources. The app is based on the PTSD Coach app from US Veterans Affairs and adapted by Veterans Affairs Canada with assistance from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Originally developed for military personnel but can be used widely.
​
CBT-i Coach
From: US Veterans Affairs (VA)
With a focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for insomnia, CBT-i Coach includes a number of tools for managing, monitoring, and learning about sleep schedules. Originally developed by the U.S. Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD for military personnel and veterans, it can also be used by a wider audience.
​
Quit That! - Habit Tracker
Quit That! is a completely free app that helps users beat their habits or addictions. Whether you’re looking to stop drinking alcohol, quit smoking, or stop taking drugs, it’s the perfect recovery tool to track and monitor your progress. Track as many vices as you want and find out how many minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years it’s been since you quit. (Free; iOS)
​
MindShift
MindShift is one of the best mental health apps designed specifically for teens and young adults with anxiety. Rather than trying to avoid anxious feelings, MindShift stresses the importance of changing how you think about anxiety. Think of this app as the cheerleader in your pocket, encouraging you to take charge of your life, ride out intense emotions, and face challenging situations. (Free; iOS and Android)
​
eMoods
eMoods is a mood-tracking app designed specifically for people with bipolar disorder. Throughout the day, users can track depressive and psychotic symptoms, elevated mood, and irritability and give an indication of the severity of their symptoms. Users can then see their mood changes on a color-coded monthly calendar and even export a monthly summary report to identify specific triggers and better understand their fluctuating moods. (Free; iOS and Android)
​
Minds of the Culture
Targeted toward Black millennials and Gen-Zs, this app includes a mood journal, Black therapist directory, blogs and videos about mental health issues, faith-based coping and more. Creator Dr. Chanda Reynolds focuses on "the impact of transgenerational trauma on the Black community, the integration of faith and mental health, and mental health within the Black church" in her work. (Free; iOS and Android)
The Safe Place
Created for anyone who wants to learn more about Black mental health, the app provides inspirational quotes, videos and a podcast, forum discussions and self-care tips on coping after police brutality, mental health in the Black church, talking with family and friends who may not want to understand mental illness, meditation, exercise and more. (Free; iOS and Android)
Educational Resources
Parents
​​
-
Talking to Children About a Suicide: This guide is designed to help parents, guardians, and caregivers of children under 12 know how to speak with them when a suicide occurs in their family or community.
-
Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health: These websites provide information targeted at parents of adolescents, including guides on how to support children suffering from depression and eating disorders. http://youngwomenshealth.org/parents/ and http://youngmenshealthsite.org/parents/
-
Children’s Mental Health Ontario: This website offers brochures for parents in a variety of languages on common mental health disorders affecting youth. www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/parents/signs_disorders.php
-
Headspace: This website from Australia has a wealth of resources and videos for parents and caregivers of young adults age 12-25 years who have mental health concerns. http://headspace.org.au/family/
-
HealthlyChildren.Org: Sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, this website provides a wide range of resources for parents of teens and young adults. https://www.healthychildren.org
-
Jed Foundation: Promoting emotional health and prevent suicide among college students, this website provides resources, including Transition Year, that is designed to help parents recognize the signs of mental health problems and help their child’s transition to college. http://www.jedfoundation.org/parents
-
Kelty Mental Health Resource Center: Numerous resources for parents and caregivers can be found at this website including a resource library and family toolkit. http://keltymentalhealth.ca/family
-
National Institute of Mental Health: Working to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, NIMA’s website provides guides and brochures directed at parents. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
-
Teen Health: This website helps parents care for their child’s ups and downs, from dealing with divorce to preparing for new siblings. It also provides information on how to understand your child’s behavior, whether it’s toddler tantrums or teenage depression. http://teenshealth.org/parent/emotions/
-
Teen Mental Health: Geared towards teenagers, this website provides learning tools on a variety of mental illnesses, videos, and resources for parents and caregivers. http://teenmentalhealth.org/care/parents/
Educators
-
This Teacher's Resource Guide contains all of the information, support and tools teachers will need to implement Talking about Mental Illness in their classroom—an awareness program that has been proven to bring about positive change in students' knowledge and attitudes about mental illness.
-
Mental Health and Addictions Nurses work in schools to provide early identification and intervention supports and services to students so they can thrive at school, remain in school, or successfully transition back to school. http://oaccac.com/Innovations-In-Care/Nursing-Initiatives/mental-health-and-addictions-nurses
-
Ministry of Education: Special education services support students who have atypical behaviors, communication, intellect, physical abilities or multiple exceptionalities to benefit fully from their school experience. These services primarily consist of assessment and instruction that differ from those provided to the general student population. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/speced.html
-
Supporting Minds: An Educator’s Guide to Promoting Students’ Mental Health and Wellbeing promotes healthy development and provides educators with information on early signs of mental health and addiction issues, and strategies that can be used in the classroom to support students. While intended for educators, it can also be used by parents to understand evidence-based classroom strategies to address common issues. https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/SupportingMinds.pdf
-
EduGAINS: Mental health video resources illustrate how educators can support student learning about mental health and well-being http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/mentalHealth/video_resources_englishCE.html
-
School Mental Health Ontario is a provincial implementation support team. They help school districts enhance student mental health through the use of evidence-based strategies and services https://smho-smso.ca/educators/
-
LearningTechLib: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted education, forcing teachers and teacher educators into emergency, remote instruction. While there were noted challenges, there also were global success stories of innovation in preparing current and future teachers. This AACE and SITE-published, open access eBook contains 133 chapters with over 850 pages documenting best practices, strategies, and efforts by teacher educators, professional developers, researchers, and practitioners.https://www.learntechlib.org/p/216903/
-
Trends Shaping Education 2019 is designed to support long-term strategic thinking in
education. It provides an overview of key economic, social, demographic and
technological trends and raises pertinent questions about their impact on education. https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/trends-shaping-education-2019_trends_edu-2019-en
Students
-
Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health: These websites provide a series of guides on emotional health, including on test anxiety, depression, bullying, and eating disorders. www.youngwomenshealth.org and www.youngmenshealthsite.org
-
Jack.Org: Collaborating with young leaders, they serve to identify and dismantle barriers to positive mental health in their communities. This website provides mental health resources for youth to educate themselves and take care of their mental health problems. https://jack.org/Resources
-
Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counseling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French. All information discussed is confidential. https://kidshelpphone.ca/
-
Go Ask Alice!: Geared at young adults, this question and answer website contains a large database of questions about a variety of concerns surrounding emotional health. www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
-
Girls Health.Gov: The "Your Feelings" section of this website offers guidance to teenage girls on recognizing a mental health problem, getting help, and talking to parents. http://girlshealth.gov/feelings/index.html
-
Jed Foundation: Promoting emotional health and prevent suicide among college students, this website provides an online resource center, ULifeline, a public dialogue forum, Half of Us, and Transition Year, resources and tools to help students transition to college. http://www.jedfoundation.org/students
-
Kelty Mental Health Resource Center: Reference sheets are provided that list top websites, books, videos, toolkits, and support for mental health disorders. http://keltymentalhealth.ca/youth-and-young-adults
-
Reach Out: This website provides information on specific mental health disorders, as well as resources to help teens make safe plans when feeling suicidal, and helpful tips on how to relax. http://au.reachout.com/
-
Teens Health: Providing a safe place for teens who need honest and accurate information, this website provides resources on mental health issues. http://teenshealth.org/teen/your_mind/
-
Teen Mental Health: Geared towards teenagers, this website provides learning tools on a variety of mental illnesses, videos, and resources for friends. http://teenmentalhealth.org/
-
Active Minds: The leading nonprofit that empowers college students to speak openly about mental health, Active Minds aims to educate others and encourage help-seeking. http://activeminds.org/
-
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network: GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. This website provides resources on finding GSA Chapters, and tools on how to establish or re-establish a GSA. http://www.glsen.org/
-
StopBullying.Gov: This website offers resources specifically for teens to prevent bullying in their schools and communities and provides resources for those being bullied. http://www.stopbullying.gov/
-
Teens Against Bullying: Created by and for teens, this website is a place for middle and high school students to find ways to address bullying, take action, be heard, and own an important social cause. http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/
-
Time to Change: As England’s biggest program to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination, this advocacy website provides ways to join the campaign and get others involved. www.time-to-change.org.uk/
-
Youth Resource: Created by and for LGBTQ young people, this website provides information and resources on self-harm and suicide, personal stories and accounts, and useful hotlines. www.youthresource.com/